Bucket closure



Nov. 19, 1935. T. H. CLARK I 2,021,683

BUCKET CLOSURE Filed July 30. 1954 Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED} STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved bucket closure and seeks, among other objects, to provide a device whereby an ordinary metal bucket may be readily converted into a bait'bucket.

The invention seeks, as a further object, to provide a device which may be readily produced and sold as an independent article of manufacture and which may be conveniently installed in any ordinary tapered metal bucket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device so formed that it may, within reasonable limits, be used in connection with buckets of different sizes.

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide a novel latch for the lid of the device and wherein the latch will normally be locked against retraction so as to securely hold the lid closed.

Other and incidental objects of the invention not specifically mentioned in the foregoing will appear during the course of the following description.

Figure 1 is an elevation partly broken away and shown in section and illustrating my improved closure installed in a conventional metal bucket.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device, and

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the latch bolt.

Referring now more particularly to the draw- 39 ing, I employ a preferably concavo-convex annular rim l0 which is preferably struck from suitable galvanized sheet metal and is provided at its outer periphery with an upturned annular flange ll flared to inverted conical shape.

35 Formed in said flange at equi-distantly spaced points are openings [2, preferably four in number and formed in the rim ID are spaced radial rows of ventilating openings I3. At its inner margin the rim I0 is offset to provide a more or less flat annular imperforate lip M which, at its free edge is rolled downwardly and inwardly to form an annular bead l5 providing a smooth surface at the mouth of the rim.

Hinged to the rim I0 is a circular lid l6 which,

45 like the rim, is also preferably struck from suitable galvanized sheet metal. Centrally, the lid is upstruck to provide a raised circular center portion I1 and surrounding said center portion in concentric relation thereto is an upstruck an- 50 nular rib l8, both of these upstruck portions of the lid serving, of course, to reenforce and brace the lid. Outwardly of the rib I8, the lid is provided with a more or less flat annular flange l9 and, as shown in Figure 1, this flange is rolled 55 downwardly and inwardly at its free margin to form a bead 20. This bead will, of course, provide a smooth surface at the periphery of the lid. It is now to be observedthat the area of the lid encircled by the rib I8 is provided with a multiplicity of scattered ventilating openings 2|. I

Riveted or otherwise fixed to the flange IQ of the lid is a hinge plate 22 which is of double thickness to provide a hinge loop 23 and upstruck from the rim ID are aligned sockets 24. Seated at its ends in said sockets is a hinge pin 25 which 10 extends through the loop 23 of the hinge plate and swingingly connects the lid with the rim. As will be noted, the flange IQ of the lid is of a diameter to freely seat against the lip [4 of the rim, when the lid is closed. 5 Slidable radially on the lid l6 opposite the hinge plate 22 is a latch bolt 26. This latch bolt is preferably formed from a length of wire bent to provide front and rear aligned end portions connected by a lateral U-shaped loop 2'! 20 which provides a handle, while one end of the length of Wire is bent over upon itself to form a stop 28 at the forwardterminal of the latch bolt. As will be observed, the forward end portion of the latch bolt is slidable through aligned 25 openings in the side walls of the rib l8 while the rear end portion of the latch bolt is slidable through an aligned opening in the side wall of the center portion ll of the lid. The latch bolt is thus mounted for free longitudinal movement 30 as well as free rotative movement and the handle 21 is disposed between the center portion l1 and rib I8 to coact therewith for limiting the latch bolt in its longitudinal movement in opposite directions.

Riveted or otherwise fixed to the rim I0 is an inverted U-shaped keeper 29 adapted to freely receive the forward end portion of the latch bolt 26 therethrough and attention is now directed to the fact that the stop 28 lies in a plane at a right angle to the handle 21. Accordingly, after the latch bolt has been projected through the keeper and the handle is swung downwardly to lie against the lid Hi, the stop 28 will coincidentally be swung upwardly in front of the keeper 29 to coact therewith, as particularly seen in Figure 1, for locking the latch bolt against accidental retraction. Due to the length of the handle 21, said handle will, in fact, provide a weight tending to rotate the latch bolt to locked position so that said handle will not only serve to normally maintain the bolt locked but, after the latch bolt has been projected through the keeper and the handle is released, will serve to automatically rotate the latch bolt to locked position.

In Figure 1 of the drawing, I have shown my improved closure installed in a conventional metal bucket 30. As will be observed, the bucket is tapered from top to bottom as is customary and is equipped with ears 3| to which is pivotally connected a handle 32. To install the closure, it is only necessary to place the rim Ill horizontally within the bucket and push downwardly on the rim until the flangev l l thereof wedges within the bucket. Openings are then provided in the wall of the bucket to register with the openings l2 in said flange when bolts 33 are installed through said openings for securing the closure in posie I tion. Thus, my improved closure provides a device whereby an ordinary bucket may readily be converted into a bait bucket and in this connection it is to be observed that the flange H is tilted to substantially conform to the inclination of the Wall of the bucket so that said flange will fit said wall. When the closure is used in connection with a bucket having a diameter at the top smaller than the bucket shown, the closure will, of course, rest nearer the top of the bucket while, when the closure is used in connection with a larger bucket, the closure will rest further down within the bucket. I have accordingly provided a device adapted, within limits, for use in connection with buckets of different sizes.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A bucket closure including a rim, a lid hinged thereto and provided with a raised center portion as well as a raised rib surrounding said center portion, a keeper carried by the rim, and a rotatable latch bolt slidable through the side walls oi said center portion and rib to project through the keeper and provided with a stop movable when the bolt is rotated to coact with the keeper for locking the bolt against retraction.

2. A closure for buckets including a rim, a lid hinged thereto and provided with a raised center portion as well as with a raised rib surrounding said center portion, a keeper carried by the rim, and a rotatable latch bolt slidable through the side walls of said center portion and rib to project through the keeper, said bolt being provided with a stop and with a laterally extending handle forming "a weight tending to rotate the bolt and dispose said stop in a position to coact with the keeper for locking the bolt against retraction.

THOMAS H. CLARK. [L.S.] 

